Matthew cooke and eobeet j



M. s; 3.0.1. COOKE.

Patente-d 1an. 4,18s1.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.l

MATTHEW COOKE AND ROBERT J. COOKE, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,306, dated January 4, 1881.

Application filed February 3, 1880.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MATTHEW COOKE and ROBERT J. COOKE, bot-h of the city vof Sacramento, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit Boxes and Baskets, of which the following is a speciiication.v

The invention relates to providing a horizontal partition or tloor in the center of each box to divide the fruit or berries in layers, in order to keep them in a position that will enable the air to freely circulate between them.

The invention applies to that class of boxes made of light material and more generally used for packing berries; and it consists in the manner of constructing a lioor of light material, so that it can be readily inserted in the box in a way that will canse it to remain rigidly in the middle of the box and permit of berries being packed above and below the said oor, and thus keep the berries in two separate layers, so that the air can befree to circulate above and below each layer, and in order to assist the circulation of air we perforate the material ot' which the box and Iioor are composed. e

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows one ofthe boxes in which onrimproved lioor is inserted. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the box with our improved iioor inserted. Fig. 3 is a plan of the box with part of the floor cnt away, showing the bottom B' of the box. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of iioor F.

Fig. 1 shows a common form of box in which berries are packed. Fig.V 2 is a sectional elevation of the Sallie, showing the manner of constructing the central iioor that forms the substance ot' our invention. This iioor is composed of light material, similar to that of which the box B is composed. The floor F is made ot' sufficient width to extend across the box B, and each end of F is bent down, as F' F', so that their ends will rest upon the bottom of the box B. These ends are bent of suicient length to raise the iioor F to about the middle of box B, so that there will be room for an equal quantity ot berries both above and below the Hoor F. 'Either one of the ends F' can be tacked to the side of box B. B v reason of the exible nature of F it can admit of the other end being raised out ofthe box, and the berries can then be packed under it, when vthe end' can then be returned to its place and the space above F filled with berries; or the whole of F can be raised out of the box B, as shown in dotted lines, when the berries can be packed below it, the floor replaced, and lanother layer of berries packed above it. The openings t' represent perforations inthe box B land iioor F, which may be made at various places for the admission of air.

If desired, one of the ends, F', of the floor F may be left ott', so that the iioor F will then consist of the iioor proper, F, and one end, F', which end F' can be tacked to the box B, as shown, and the floor F be prevented from slid ing down too far in the box by the lioor coming in Contact with the tapering sides of B after it has slid half or part way down.

What we claim as our invention is The door F, with bent ends F' F' or end F', in combination with the box B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

MATTHEW COOKE. ROBERT J. COOKE.

Witnesses p F. AMSDEN, ELIsoN V. BUOKLEY. 

